The Advanced Undecided College Student: A Qualitative Study
Abstract
This qualitative study examined 16 advanced undecided college students at a large Midwestern research university and identified eight themes in their experiences with undecidedness: a) frustration, anxiety, and hopelessness; b) fear of commitment; c) fear of judgment; d) self-doubt and low self-esteem; e) difficulty setting goals; f) family issues; g) reluctance to seek help; and h) the desire for a personal, caring advising relationship. All of the students viewed undecidedness as a distressing experience, and all seemed to need help developing good decision-making skills. Additional conclusions, observations, and advising implications are discussed.
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Talking with students about career and major uncertainty eases the anxiety such uncertainty may create.
“easing the anxiety such uncertainty may create (Gordon & Steele, 2003;Hagstrom et al., 1997).”
From Demographics, Purpose, and Dreams: Predicting Entering College as an Undecided Major Student (2023) · cites this paper as Hagstrom et al., 1997
Cites
Concluding remarks and career services imperatives for the 1990s
Rayman, J. R. (1993) · New Directions for Student Services · doi:10.1002/ss.37119936208 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
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Predictors of Career Indecision Among Malaysian Undergraduate Students
Talib, M. A., & Tan, K. (2009) · Universiti Putra Malaysia Institutional Repository (Universiti Putra Malaysia) · Cited by 33 · see citing works
First-Generation Students With Undecided Majors: A Qualitative Study of University Reacculturation
Glaessgen, T. A., MacGregor, C. J., Cornelius‐White, J. H. D., Hornberger, R. S., & Baumann, D. M. (2018) · NACADA Journal · doi:10.12930/nacada-16-030 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Exploratory Honors Students: Academic Major and Career Decision Making
Carduner, J., Padak, G. M., & Reynolds, J. L. (2011) · NACADA Journal · doi:10.12930/0271-9517-31.1.14 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
A Research-Based Approach to Working with Undecided Students: A Case Study Illustration
Steele, G. E. (2003) · NACADA Journal · doi:10.12930/0271-9517-23.1-2.10 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Advising Undecided Students: Lessons From Chaos Theory
Beck, A. (1999) · NACADA Journal · doi:10.12930/0271-9517-19.1.45 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Librarian as Advisor: Information Search Process of Undecided Students and Novice Researchers
Wiley, C. W., & Williams, J. (2015) · NACADA Journal · doi:10.12930/nacada-14-008 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Demographics, Purpose, and Dreams: Predicting Entering College as an Undecided Major Student
Harper, C. E., Orr, R., & Stolzenberg, E. B. (2023) · NACADA journal · doi:10.12930/nacada-22-42 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Talking with students about their career and major uncertainty also helps normalize the developmental and exploratory experience (Grites, 1981; Titley & Titley, 1980), easing the anxiety such uncertainty may create (Gordon & Steele, 2003; Hagstrom et al., 1997).”
Factors Influencing Student Major Selection at a Community College
Keck, K. J. (2016) · The Keep (Eastern Illinois University) · Cited by 3 · see citing works
A Historiographic Review of the Research on Undecided Students
Spight, D. B., Mooney, D., & Orr, R. (2023) · NACADA Review · doi:10.12930/nacr-22-17 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Academic Advising and the Student Transition to College
Cuseo, J. (2019) · Journal of College Orientation Transition and Retention · doi:10.24926/jcotr.v19i1.2781 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Cumulative Subject Index to Volumes 16–30 of the NACADA Journal
Shaffer, L. S. (2010) · NACADA Journal · doi:10.12930/0271-9517-30.2.72 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Certainty in career choice among Kenyatta University students implications for career counseling
Maingi, L. W. (2007) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Major Adjustment: Students' Transition Experiences Leaving Selective Undergraduate Degree Programs.
Halasz, H. M. (2013) · Scholar Commons (University of South Carolina)
Teo, A. C. (2009) · UUM Electronic Theses and Dissertation [eTheses] (Northern University of Malaysia)
Robbins, R., Steele, G. E., King, P., White, E. R., Darling, R. A., & Reinarz, A. G. (2013)
Professional Writers’ Emotions, Beliefs, and Decisions Regarding Their English Major
Sánchez, F. (2024) · Technical Communication Quarterly · doi:10.1080/10572252.2024.2389229
Retaining exploring students: A comparison study of decided and undecided college students
Dennis, B. D. (2007) · ScholarWorks - WMU (Western Michigan University)
- Authors
- Hagstrom, S. J., Skovholt, T. M., & Rivers, D. A.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
- University of Minnesota (US)
- ORCID
- Skovholt, Thomas M.
- Venue
- NACADA Journal
- Published
- 1997
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 23-30
- ISSN
- 0271-9517 (ISSN-L)
- 2330-3840
- OpenAlex
- W2176863461
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 2.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- NACADA Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Higher Education Research Studies
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Career Development and Diversity
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Student Stress and Coping
- Keywords
- undecided students, academic advising, fear of commitment, fear of judgment, self-doubt, goal setting, family influence on students, student distress, higher education
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